I have to get my first oil change on my Class A. I am bringing it to my local Camping World. They gave me a list of annual maintenance that they suggest being done when I went in to make an appointment. I will be meeting with the service adviser on Monday. What should be done every year and what are they going to sell me that doesn't need to be done? What do you recommend I get done? Is there a list I can consult?
Thanks!
Jon and Alison Stein
2008 Fleetwood Fiesta 34' Gas
And my fun car, 1971 Buick Skylark Convertible
CW is expensive, call around you can find much cheaper services. Servicing a gas RV is no harder, some things actually are easier than a car. i.e. oil/filter changes.
Some of those 'Annual Maintenance' lists are bogus and just designed to vacuum more money out of your wallet. Right now the biggest hoax is changing your oil every 3,000 miles. I use all synthetic and go 25,000 miles between changes.
But, getting off my soapbox, here's a link to get you started: RV University
First thing they recommend is go by the schedule shown in the manuals that came with the RV. There's an engine manual, chassis manual, and house manual. They all have maintenance schedules. If you didn't get manuals, call whoever you bought it from to find them. Mine have hundreds of pages and they are all marked up with newer part numbers, cross references, phone numbers, part explanations, etc.
Don't expect CW to do it right either. And check your particular CWs references at RV Service Reviews.
Basically, with your manuals, you're in good shape if you study them.
Good luck and have fun out on the road...
It would be cool if you put a description of your RV in your signature so we don't have to guess at what you might have.
As far as Midas, Jiffy Lube, or Oil Can Henry's, or any of those chains for that matter, I'm not convinced that they don't use very, very cheap oils. Improper weights and mixes sold as high quality brands (like Quaker State). Wouldn't put it past them to just strain used oil and mix it in with new without processing...not that I'm against that, but they should let you know.
I only feel this is the case by observation. If I did my own oil change with quality oil, with a rating for the weather, it would last several thousand miles and still look good. If I was in a hurry and had one of those shops do the change, a couple thousand miles later the oil would be black, thin, and I'd hear valve clatter. Forcing me to do another change (which I'd do myself).
No wonder those shops recommend changing oil every 3,000 miles.
Haven't used one of those chain shops for years so I don't know if they are better now. For the RV, I use truck repair shops, mobile RV services, or do it myself...and I provide the oil (fully synthetic) and sometimes filters.
My brother worked for a chevy dealer as a service writer ... most of the maintenance is not needed. They make more money through maintenance then throught the sale of new cars. That being said, just keep up on the normal maintenance you would do on your car. Fluid changes, tuneups, and whatever is in your owners manual. Use fully synthetic fluids when possible.
You should have a chasis maintenance book, it will spell out all maintenance and the intervals. My guess would be that CW recommended maint plus the oil and lube will be several hundred dollars.
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Jim@HiTek
